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押韵 (yá yùn) — (adjective) rhyming, having a rhyme

Definition

An adjective describing language (poetry, lyrics, prose) that uses words with the same or similar ending sounds. Distinct from rhyme scheme terminology like 韵脚 (rhyme position) or 韵律 (meter and rhyme together).

adjective
rhyminghaving a rhyme

Examples

  • 押韵。
    Zhè shǒu yá yùn de shī hěn hǎo tīng.
    This rhyming poem sounds good.
  • 押韵。
    Wǒ xiě de jù zi shì yá yùn de.
    The sentences I wrote are rhyming.
  • 押韵。
    Hàn yǔ gǔ shī dōu shì yá yùn de.
    Classical Chinese poems are all rhyming.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

押yāmatch
韵yùnrhyme

押 suggests matching or pressing, while 韵 is the rhyme; together they describe words matching in sound.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
甲
甲jiǎ押yā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

押 pairs 扌, a hand, with 甲, which gives the sound.

Open 押 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 韻; 韵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
音音yīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán韻yùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 韻 pairs 音, meaning sound, with 員 to give its sound; the simplified 韵 is a later shorthand, not made of those original parts.

Open 韵 →
Appears in
Literature & Poetry

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